Former two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has hit back at claims by the F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali that grand prix should be shorter. Domenicali has come out and said that the current length of an F1 race is too long for younger people. The Italian claimed that highlight shows are very popular.
However, Aston Martin driver Alonso disagrees with Domenicali. The 44-year-old veteran of the sport believes that the problem is with society, and not the sport. The Spaniard has called for the length of the races to remain the same.
Fernando Alonso dismisses Stefano Domenicali’s call for shorter races
Except for Monaco, the minimum distance of an F1 race is 190 miles. This means a clean race will usually take around 90 minutes, with some slower circuits taking a bit longer. Stefano Domenicalli believes this is “too long for young people.” However, 32-time race winner Fernando Alonso disagrees.
Speaking in the press conference before the Italian GP, Alonso said, “No one is talking about having 60-minute football matches or something like that…
“It’s a problem with society and the kids, but not the sport, so probably it’s not needed.”
Fernando Alonso on reports that F1 is looking to shorten the length of races:
🗣️ “No one is talking about having 60 minute football matches or something like that…
“It’s a problem with society and the kids but not the sport, so probably it’s not needed.” pic.twitter.com/rt4xoUi3W8
— The Race (@wearetherace) September 4, 2025
F1 races are long for many reasons. They are a test of a driver’s endurance, requiring them to compete and concentrate for long periods of time. It is also a test of the car’s endurance and reliability, as with a long race, anything can happen, as seen last weekend in Zandvoort when Lando Norris retired late on.
The time of an F1 race also means teams need to think on their feet in terms of strategy. With a long race, tyres could degrade more than first thought, meaning strategies will need to be amended. A driver could also choose to swap strategies to chase down a rival. If the races are shorter, pit stops and strategy will no longer be required, like in sprint races.
Stefano Domenicali wants to scrap practice sessions and increase sprint events
Along with shorter races, Domenicali wants Friday practice sessions to be modified. He believes people don’t enjoy watching the practice sessions and would rather see action on track. Alongside this idea, the Italian would introduce more sprint events throughout the season.
Speaking to the media, Domenicali says the fans want to see action. He said, “Promoters and fans want action. And now that they’ve started to understand it’s possible. Our surveys show the vast majority of the audience wants the drivers to fight for a result.
“To put it bluntly, they’re tired of free practice. That’s an objective fact we can’t ignore. I’m being a bit provocative, but free practice appeals to super-specialists; people who want to see more action prefer a sprint weekend.”
Although fans might want more action on the track, teams might have other ideas. Practice is crucial to them having a good weekend. They are free sessions where they can test new parts on their cars, change their setups and test tyres to see how long they last. Removing that for races like in Suzuka would hinder teams.
On the flip side, this would create more unpredictability. With only one practice session, teams might choose the wrong setup, meaning those at the front of the grid could struggle. This would create more entertainment for fans.
What are your thoughts on Domenicali’s new ideas? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
